Week 5: Let's Focus on the Good!

Week 5: Let's Focus on the Good!

It’s a good idea to be clear about good fats and that is why I keep it simple and stick with good fats that are found in their most natural state. There is so much confusion on this subject, and that is why I am writing about good fats verses bad fats with the hopes that this will empower and clarify some misunderstandings. I stay away from the latest diet” trends”, so for me it is not about following the latest trends such as cooking with coconut oil and making the same mistake as the “margarine generation” excuse the pun. I don’t have anything against coconut oil lathered on my body as a moisturizer but the longitudinal research involved in ingesting certain fats may yet to be discovered just as margarine was once thought of as a good fat.

Let’s talk a little bit about good fats verses bad fats and let’s “keep it simple”. I can’t stress enough the importance of eating good fats, our body needs good fats in order to reduce bad cholesterol and increase overall health. Good cholesterol high density lipoproteins reduce your risk of developing a heart attack or stroke because good fats decrease low density lipoproteins (Banik, Hossain, 2014). Low density lipoprotein aka “bad fat” can build up insidiously and over time increases the risk of developing a stroke and heart attack (Banik, Hossain, 2014).Personally, I keep it simple and ingest the most naturally occurring fats such as one whole avocado daily, fresh salmon, two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil daily for cooking purposes, cold pressed refrigerated flax seed oil on salads daily. These are the main good fats that I am talking about that decrease bad cholesterol, decrease inflammation and facilitate proper neurological function in the body. Fats are part of protecting vital organs, absorbing fat soluble vitamins, and contribute to shiny lustrous hair and healthy nail growth (Banik, Hossain, 2014).

Reference

Banik, S., & Hossain, M. (2014). A comparative overview on good fats and

bad fats: guide to control healthy body. International Journal of

Health, 2(2), 41-44. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.14419/ijh.v2i2.2903